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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

I don't know about you, but if I don't have things written down then I completely forget. I thought it'd be good for us all-me included-to have a list reminding us of things we need to get started on to prepare for the Christmas season.

Here we go, ladies...

*Christmas Cards-I'm not sure where you are in this process, but if you're sending out Christmas cards now is the time! Whether you're planning outfits for pictures, ordering cards, or addressing your envelopes we must be working on these!

*Christmas Pajamas-Our Christmas pajama tradition is our kiddos begin wearing Christmas pj's the week of Thanksgiving. I need to have these ready soon. I just placed an order for pajamas last week.

*Advent Calendar-Our elf brings an Advent calendar for each kiddo. (This is the first year Bowen is getting his own.) If your kiddos have any sort of advent calendar, now is the time to order or get it all set up and ready.

*Angel Tree, Operation Christmas Child, Delivering Toys-One year I did our Angel Tree gifts and Christmas shoe boxes all by myself to check it off the list and totally failed. We want our kiddos to be a part of that, but I was pressed for time. Now, I plan-shop for Angel Tree gifts-one evening as a family event.

*Elf on the Shelf-EEK! That elf. I know some of you go ALL OUT with your elf and his shenanigans. If you need special props, start preparing. Our elf arrives with powdered donuts, chocolate donuts, and strawberries for a little North Pole breakfast. I always purchase all the Christmas plates before Thanksgiving so we're ready.

*Christmas Devotion-Every year I try out a different version. Maybe you have a favorite? Or you're like me and you're trying a new one this year. Either way...collect everything you'll need to begin your Christmas devotional.

*Christmas Wreath-With our new double doors, we need all new wreaths for holidays. I found our fall wreaths at HomeGoods. They were inexpensive and cute. Win-win! On Saturday, I found some cute Christmas wreaths at HomeGoods. If you need a wreath, check that place out!

*Plan Festivities-I've found if I simply plan a little Christmas fun weekly during the month of December it works out better for all of us. I'm not talking anything crazy....Christmas movie night, looking at Christmas lights, visiting Santa...those kinds of things.

*Christmas Lights-Last year was the first year we had someone put Christmas lights on our house. Tab Slaughter isn't looking back. Best decision ever! The guy we used last year was fabulous and he actually came on November 1st this year to put them up. The outside of our house is already Christmas ready!

*Make a Gift List-Who do you need to buy for? I always make a list so I don't forget anyone.

*SHOP-I mentioned yesterday this is the week I get my shop on! I usually make a couple big online orders and the gifts start arriving on my doorstep. SO EASY!

*Wrap Presents-I usually plan this for a day all the kiddos are at school and knock out all the gifts at once.

*Prepare for any Christmas Parties-Whether you're attending a Christmas party or the hostess, start preparing...the food, the invites, the decor, the favors, and on and on.

*Remember the REASON for the SEASON-Amidst the hustle and bustle all the Christmas season brings, it can easily slip our minds the real reason we're celebrating. I'll be doing everything I can this year to remind my people why we're having so much fun and making special memories.

"For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

I needed this so I will jump into gear! For a Christmas devotional, I'm doing Sacred Holidays advent called He Is all about the Lord's attributes.. the great thing is they have it in different forms (for women, for men, for families, etc)... just an idea!!!

Goodness, Erika! This was the kick in the pants I needed!!! Thanks for the checklist! Online shopping really is awesome! I'm going to take a few minutes RIGHT NOW to start my "who I need to shop for" list :)

Do you have the Jesus Storybook Bible? If not I HIGHLY recommend it (available at Amazon- thank you Jesus for Prime 😉) There are devotionals using that Bible on Pinterest. It's what I did when my boys were little and it worked great! The stories are all in that Bible and it's very easy to do during those busy little years. :)

You are so right!! I love this checklist. My son is getting older now and we're adding in a few of these traditions this year which is really fun, but quite a bit more work for Mama!! This will be our first year for Elf on the Shelf. I'm excited to start the breakfast tradition!